Jai tardigrade bhagwan ki jai. Makes sense to add the strongest being on this planet in our pantheon of gods

Most people across the world agree that the point of believing in a supreme entity – to be referred to from now on as ‘god’ – is that even if it is not able to protect us, it has capabilities of, at least, protecting itself. The indestructible nature of god – barring the views of a wild-eyed, moustachioed 19th century German and his bhakts who pronounced its demise – is non-negotiable. Keeping this basic prerequisite in mind, may we suggest that we deify the tardigrade, an eight-legged micro-animal, pronto.

Critics may scoff at the idea of worshipping a being that is 0.5 mm long. The silliness of that argument when applied to a god that needs to be seen is self-evident in any culture. And to see one’s microscopic god needs a microscope, not the less dependable faith. It is the tardigrade’s invincibility that makes it a great candidate. It can survive extreme temperatures and pressures, radiation, dehydration, starvation and, in these Covid times, air deprivation – specimens having even survived in outer space. They have lived through all five mass extinctions since Earth’s birth. Sure, the plump, slug-like creature may need a makeover before being depicted for devotion. But these are the strongest folks. So, don’t feel shy praying to the deserving tardigrade. We do far stupider things that are as irrational as this, if not more.